Software Media & Inks



  • + Siegwerk and Agfa partner on UV inks

    Siegwerk, an international suppliers of printing inks for packaging applications and labels, and Agfa Graphics, a supplier in prepress offset and inkjet print, have entered i...

    March 18 2018

    Siegwerk, an international suppliers of printing inks for packaging applications and labels, and Agfa Graphics, a supplier in prepress offset and inkjet print, have entered into a strategic alliance for digital packaging inks.

    The contract signed between the two companies includes a business transfer from Agfa Graphics to Siegwerk of a selected OEM customer list, access to know-how, intellectual property and services in the domain of UV curable digital inkjet inks for the single pass packaging and labels industry.

    ‘This strategic alliance is a perfect fit for both of us,’ said Tom Cloots, director industrial inkjet Agfa NV. ‘Packaging and label printers are increasingly attracted by the performance and quality of the Agfa inks that are used in a wide variety of printing systems. With this deal, we allow Siegwerk to extensively leverage on our strong network with OEM print head and equipment manufacturers as well as on our know-how and intellectual property in the domain of UV curable digital inks for packaging. At the same time, Agfa continues to focus on the other domains of the growing industrial print segment where Agfa has stronger market access potential.’

    ‘With this deal we are bridging the best of two worlds. While we will continue to rely on Agfa’s existing strong collaboration with OEMs and print head manufacturers, we will be able to offer our packaging market access and application know-how to these new partners,’ said Matthieu Carni, director business unit Inkjet Siegwerk.

    Both companies will work together to ensure a handover of business without any interference for the customers of both companies. Agfa will continue to manufacture on behalf of Siegwerk for several months to support a smooth transition for the customers. After the transition period, Siegwerk will produce the new inks and varnishes according to the highest quality and safety standards at its own inkjet manufacturing center in Annemasse, France. With its global commercial network, Siegwerk then will be able to offer its new UV inkjet portfolio to customers worldwide.





  • + Dashing Group deploys HP PrintOS across HP digital printing platforms

    HP PrintOS Print Beat delivers efficiency, flexibility and productivity across Dashing Group’s HP Latex, Scitex and Indigo presses HP today announced that 

    March 14 2018

    HP PrintOS Print Beat delivers efficiency, flexibility and productivity across Dashing Group’s HP Latex, Scitex and Indigo presses

    HP today announced that Dashing Group, an Australian print, technology and design business, has become the first in the Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) region to deploy HP PrintOS Print Beat across HP’s large format, industrial and Indigo digital print platforms.

    A print optimisation solution in HP’s cloud-based print production operating system, Print Beat is operating on Dashing Group’s four HP Latex production printers, two HP Scitex industrial presses, and three HP Indigo sheet-fed digital presses.

    “Since its launch at drupa in 2016, print service providers of all sizes have begun connecting to PrintOS to simplify production and get the most out of their HP presses and printers,”said Jeremy Brew, Application Specialist – Large Format, HP South Pacific. “Australian businesses have been among the earliest adopters as they look to continue improving operations while protecting their margins. Dashing Group is leading this movement, and we expect its success will encourage many others around the world to follow suit.”

    As a provider of large and small format prints for Australia’s biggest retail brands, Dashing Group needed a solution to manage its high print volumes by simplifying and automating the production process. Having chosen HP as its primary supplier of large format and digital presses, the decision to implement PrintOS was straightforward.

    “At Dashing Group we have seen growing demand for highly customised prints as customers look for new ways to stand out from the crowd. But while projects have become more complex, lead times are shrinking,” said Paul Wilcockson, Chief Operating Officer, Dashing Group. “Having one platform to help us automate our print production and manage any number of jobs from submission to delivery has allowed us to not only keep up with demand, but offer a level of service no other print service provider can. The fact that PrintOS came at no extra cost has been an added bonus.”

    For Dashing Group, the standout feature of HP’s PrintOS system is the ability to generate real-time data on press performance through PrintOS Print Beat. As one of 13 PrintOS applications, Print Beat offers both historical and near-real-time data on volume, utilisation and maintenance to track printer and site performance.

    With sites across Sydney and Melbourne, PrintOS Print Beat has allowed Dashing Group to promote better, faster decision-making, work flow planning and resource allocation. Flexibility has also been key, as PrintOS Print Beat is available through a web browser and mobile app.

    “When you travel as often as we do, it’s important that we’re able to monitor the fleet’s performance and efficiency from any location,” said Wilcockson. “On multiple occasions, PrintOS Print Beat has allowed me to access real-time data from halfway across the world, so it’s reassuring to know we can monitor our print production from anywhere, at any time.”

    The PrintOS Print Beat dashboard can also be displayed onscreen, beside each printer, to give operators a near-live feed on how each device is performing and how it is tracking against current targets and past performance. According to Wilcockson, this benchmarking feature has introduced the unexpected benefit of friendly competition in the print room.

     

    More information on HP PrintOS and Print Beat is available at: http://www8.hp.com/au/en/commercial-printers/floater/printos.html





  • + Agfa Graphics raises the bar with Fortuna 11, leading high-security design software

    Agfa Graphics released Fortuna 11 – the latest update of its design and assembly software for high-security printing. Providing a way to skillfully safeguard counterfeit-sensitive ...

    February 24 2018

    Agfa Graphics released Fortuna 11 – the latest update of its design and assembly software for high-security printing.

    Providing a way to skillfully safeguard counterfeit-sensitive documents, this version focuses on enhanced user-friendliness, productivity and creative freedom. “It’s the first step towards a completely revised user experience,” reveals Andy Grant, Global Head of Software at Agfa Graphics.

    Fortuna in a nutshell 

    Like all preceding versions of the software, Fortuna 11 takes a modular approach to high-security design and printing: users can choose from different modules and features to assemble their product to match their needs. In creating unique designs to protect their sensitive documents – checks, lottery tickets, driver’s licenses, ID cards, tax stamps, passports, birth certificates, diplomas, breeder documents, etc. – they can rely on a potent graphical base editor that reconciles aesthetics with security.

    A new interactive user experience

    Fortuna 11 comes with two new functionalities that enhance interactivity and productivity. One of them – Live Preview – enables users to view changes in their security designs in real time instead of checking it in a separate preview window. It works hand in hand with the new Smart Stepper functionality, which allows users to try out different settings and easily revert to previous ones.

    “Agfa Graphics is constantly exploring new paths to help customers stay a few steps ahead of counterfeiters,” Andy Grant comments. “Fortuna 11 focuses on an improved user experience by enabling security designers to create high-security design details in complete symbiosis with all surrounding security elements. And we’ll continue adapting the software to increase design productivity. Also, Agfa Graphics plans to launch new software to further facilitate and automate the production process of qualitative high-security documents.”

    Boasting over 20 years of experience

    Building on decades of experience in high-security design and confidentiality, Agfa Graphics also included fixes and other updates in Fortuna 11. The software will now run more smoothly with Wacom tablets and on computers with touch screens, for example.

    “This version is the first step toward an entirely revised user experience. And we will continue developing Fortuna’s user interface to meet ever-evolving needs,” Andy Grant concludes.

    Click on the image below for more details.





  • + AVERY DENNISON ADDS FOUR NEW PASTEL COLOURS OF SUPREME WRAPPING™ FILM

    Avery Dennison today introduces four new pastel colours of Supreme Wrapping™ Films designed to personalise and refresh the car’s appearance with a cool new fashion look.

    February 23 2018

    Avery Dennison today introduces four new pastel colours of Supreme Wrapping™ Films designed to personalise and refresh the car’s appearance with a cool new fashion look.

    Launched across Australia and New Zealand region, the distinctive pastel tones celebrate the vintage beauty of iconic American muscle cars – two-door high-

    performance vehicles – in the sixties. The new colours in gloss film are Light Pistachio, Cloudy Blue, Sea Breeze Blue and Smoky Blue.

    “These soft, pastel colours were inspired by the classic muscle cars – gleamingly cool yet powerful and tough,” said Jordan Leach, business manager for Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions in Australia and New Zealand. “These pastels are perfect for car installers and enthusiasts looking to achieve an arresting impact.”

    The Supreme Wrapping Film portfolio includes more than 100 colours and finishes. Best-in-class performance and easy installation are offered by Easy Apply RS™ air egress technology – Supreme Wrapping Films can be repositioned easily during application, for bubble-free results.

    For the full range of Supreme Wrapping Film available, please visit graphicsap.averydennison.com.





  • + Avery Products launches Surface Safe sign labels

    Avery Products Corporation, has introduced Surface Safe sign labels. This customisable signage leaves no...

    February 20 2018

    Avery Products Corporation, has introduced Surface Safe sign labels. This customisable signage leaves no damage or residue on walls, windows, stainless steel and more.

    The sign labels, available at Fastenal, Amazon, avery.com and select distributors, are made of a durable polyester material that’s water, chemical, abrasion and tear resistant. They’re suitable for creating caution, hazard, compliance, warning and confined space signs, as well as signs for offices, schools, special events and home. They’re easy to customize and users can either print them from a standard desktop printer or have them custom printed by Avery WePrint, the company’s professional printing service.

    Product features include:

    • Removable Surface Safe adhesive sticks and stays put yet removes cleanly without damage or residue, for up to three years when used as recommended.
    • Recommended for indoor use on drywall, doors, glass, stainless steel and more
    • Ability to easily create custom signs using the free Avery Design and Print software at avery.com/templates or order custom signs from Avery WePrint at avery.com/weprint
    • Choose from hundreds of complimentary stock or customizable OSHA/ANSI compliant templates

    “These new sign labels offer a simple solution for businesses and facilities to create custom signage that won’t damage surfaces and holds up to wear and tear in warehouses, the manufacturing floor and offices,” says Tina Huff, group product manager. “The adhesive used in our Surface Safe technology offers users a unique performance, and even better, with the easy-to-use design software, they can design and print new signage in minutes from their desktop printer or let Avery WePrint professionally print them. And when they need a change, they can easily take the sign down, leaving no damage or residue.”

    The labels are compatible with both laser and inkjet printers—no specialized printer is required. For the best inkjet printer performance, use pigment-based inks like those used in HP OfficeJet Pro and Epson WorkForce Pro printers.



    Tips and Tricks : Wall Film Preparation and Application

    – Written by Jessica Tailby. Graphic Art Mart

    Wall films come in a range of textures, with durability and adhesive features to match many applications including:

    • walls, doors, ceilings
    • reception areas, offices
    • retail stores, gyms, restaurants
    • home décor, furniture
    • showrooms, exhibitions
    • hallways, walkways

    Beyond meeting concept and design objectives, the key points to consider for wall graphics are:

    • Choosing the right wall graphic product
    • Careful surface preparation

    Surface Preparation:

    Preparing the surface properly is the foundation to a successful application. To prevent your wall graphic from bubbling, peeling or sliding off, the surface has to be free of dust and damage. Success can be guaranteed with patience and attention to detail. By hastily installing wall graphics, you are inviting failure.

    Pristine Walls:
    Irrespective of wall type – plaster, brick, concrete or rendered walls; loose joints, flaky material, chipped or peeling paint, holes and cracks – anything that might affect the quality of the wall graphic must be attended to.
    Repairs will avoid two issues:

    • The wall graphic film will adhere to the surface better and maintain quality and longevity.
    • Imperfections are more evident when graphics are applied, and may be even more obvious if a protective overlaminate is used.

    Painted Surfaces:
    To be certain of the surface quality, repaint with a high quality semi-gloss or gloss paint. A textured surface will limit the adhesion of the graphic, i.e. the film sticks to the high points only. A smooth flat surface will give the best opportunity for a quality application and thorough adhesion.

    A newly painted wall, after curing still needs to be cleaned with a lint free cloth to remove any dust particles. Existing walls, if in good condition, are to be washed with Isopropyl Alcohol and dried thoroughly.

    Time is Your Friend:
    Allow time for paint to cure not merely dry. Curing gives maximum hardness, time for outgassing, and covers other factors such as the thickness and colour of your paint and the surface type. For water based paints curing can take as long as 30 days whereas oil-based paints can take 7 days. Your paint manufacturer should provide clear guidelines. Applying a graphic before complete curing may cause lifting, or bubbles that result in failure.

    Sometimes speed is necessary, particularly for business advertising and workplaces. Vipond’s Self Adhesive Prep Coat can be used to enhance the adhesion of self-adhesive digital prints onto internal and external surfaces.

    Choosing the Right Product:
    Get it right first time! Understanding objectives, the look and feel of the wall graphic and the surface type are the first considerations. Knowing the traffic flow and if the graphic will be touched, brushed or scratched may mean adding protection through laminating.
    To be confident of success, test the compatibility of the graphic film in an inconspicuous surface area.

    The following examples show some of the many vinyls, wallpaper fabrics and high tack films available:

    Vinyl Indoor Wall Film
    Vinyl wall film is a common solution for wall murals, POP and tradeshow applications in high traffic areas such as shopping centres, businesses or conventions. Being a tough and scuff resistant film, it is perfect to ensure
    longevity and maintain a fresh appearance.

    The Avery MPI 2611 Wall Film suits these applications perfectly. Being a 152 micron satin white vinyl film with a thick face construction it provides extra stability to eliminate curling and bubbling. Its adhesive qualities work well with many kinds of walls and painted surfaces, while at the same time it can be removed if necessary. This film is often laminated for added protection as well as making it easier to install.

    Printable Wallpaper Film
    Changing old wallpaper perceptions, with digital print technology and modern wallpaper graphic media you can have a unique design to achieve a WOW factor.

    The Sihl 3258 Satin Wallpaper is a market leader. Being a printable wallpaper film coated with a satin finish it provides outstanding scratch and water resistant qualities. Easy to apply it comes pre-coated with a wateractivated adhesive that is quick drying.

    Fabric Textile Film
    Fabric materials are proving very popular for a soft, textured feel. One advantage of these films are that they are removable, repositionable and reusable.

    Phototex Blockout is a tinted removable/reuseable textile film that is seen in retail outlets, shopping centres, commercial buildings and homes. Its tinted adhesive ensures a solid colour finish and can be installed on any
    surface except non-painted brick. In addition it can be used over and over again.

    High Tensile Wall Film
    Where the quality of the surface is unknown a high tack adhesive film is recommended to ensure that the wall graphic is effective. This is particularly true when applying to highly textured surfaces such as brick and concrete. The Arlon DPF 8000 Series Outdoor Wall Film is equally suitable to indoor applications. This product is a 90 micron satin white poly vinyl chloride film with high tensile properties designed to last.




  • + EFI Optitex Launches 3D Design Illustrator to Validate and Customize 3D Garments in Adobe Illustrator

    EFI Optitex®, the world’s leading provider of integrated 2D & 3D CAD/CAM apparel platform technology, has launched the Optitex 3D Design Illustrator, a plug-in tool allowing design...

    January 31 2018

    EFI Optitex®, the world’s leading provider of integrated 2D & 3D CAD/CAM apparel platform technology, has launched the Optitex 3D Design Illustrator, a plug-in tool allowing designers the freedom to validate and customize 3D garments in Adobe® Illustrator®. The new 3D Design Illustrator was announced this week at 19th annual EFI Connect users’ conference in Las Vegas.

    Through working in the native design environment on a PC or a Mac, designers can visualize 3D garments, with accurate proportion and scaling, and customize the garment’s fabric, texture, print patterns and graphic placement without waiting for a printed sample.

    The plug-in works by importing 2D and 3D pattern files or building block libraries into Adobe Illustrator and activating a window with a 3D representation of the pattern side-by-side. Users can export the final file as a picture or 3D file, validate designs among teams, and send directly for digital or sublimation printing.

    3D adoption is already a necessity for nearly every successful fashion company, and in that space, it is important to onboard all teams from design to production,” said Guy Alroy, head of Textile product management, EFI Productivity Software. “Now, entire teams can enable 3D capabilities to streamline the whole design to print workflows, letting them focus on creativity, reduce physical prototypes, and get to market faster than before.”

    A video of the new plug-in software is available at: tinyurl.com/y8k3dsm9. For more information, visit www.efi.com/optitex.

    EFI also offers Fiery DesignPro textile design plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop on Mac or Windows computer platforms. Fiery DesignPro cost-effectively improves textile design speed and accuracy, lets designers experiment more confidently, and communicates color consistently from design to production.





  • + Kodak Adds Violet Ink, Expands Proofer Connectivity to Proofing Software

    Kodak announced upgrades to the Kodak Proofing Software, making it easier for printers to spend less time planning and more time printing consistent colour results. New with the upgrade, Kodak P...

    January 31 2018

    Kodak announced upgrades to the Kodak Proofing Software, making it easier for printers to spend less time planning and more time printing consistent colour results. New with the upgrade, Kodak Proofing Software allows you to proof spot colours with stunning accuracy with new support for violet ink proofers from the EPSON SC-P7000 and SC-P9000 family. The new upgrade also meets print buyer expectations by achieving standard targets based on ISO 12647, GRACoL, and SWOP with Certified Proofing for Colour Confirmation.

    While the Kodak Proofing Software gives you better management of colors, it also pairs perfectly with some of the impressive features already in the software including supporting custom media, industry leading color performance and scheduled calibration. This allows printers to calibrate after hours, meeting print buyer specifications and maintaining industry standards. The end result is to achieve top-of-the-line proofing right in the hands of the users to ensure a flawless finished product.

    “Kodak Proofing Software is a dependable, easy-to-use solution for inkjet proofing,” said Allan Brown, VP and general manager of Kodak’s Unified Workflow Solutions. “This offering reduces costs by eliminating extensive planning and allows for an overall increase in operations agility by delivering consistent, reliable results time after time. Kodak Proofing Software builds on top of the same best in class colour technology found in Kodak COLORFLOW Software and in the rest of Kodak’s PRINERGY Product Suite.”





  • Xerox and Electronics For Imaging (EFI) today demonstrated a new Fiery digital front end (DFE) that will give print providers a powerful new tool to manage high-value jobs that require special embellishments and effects using dry inks including silver, gold and clear.

    Keypoint Intelligence-InfoTrends projects that digital print enhancement volume will grow at a 27 percent compound annual growth rate through 2020, providing print operations with new business that promises both growth and profit.

    “This new development by Xerox and EFI is a testament to the commitment by both suppliers to enrich their solutions with efficient production workflow, processing power and color management needed for the range of applications produced today,” said Ron Gilboa, group director, Keypoint Intelligence. “These tools are critical for print providers who are looking to grow their business and offer their clients differentiated solutions including color and the use of special embellishments in metallic gold and silver.”

    In February of last year, Xerox announced the sale of its FreeFlow Print Server (FFPS) DFE business to EFI, along with plans to work with EFI to market a single DFE to drive Xerox digital production presses. The new DFE combines unique features from the Xerox FFPS with the capabilities of the market leading EFI Fiery DFE.

    “This is an important step in our collaboration with EFI to offer our customers a single and more powerful DFE,” said Andrew Copley, president, Graphic Communications Solutions, Xerox. “Customers will benefit not only from greater production efficiencies and performance capabilities, but also from increased support in the field.”

    The new DFE delivers fast Raster Imaging Processor (RIP) speeds, seamless automation integration, and advanced workflow efficiency and productivity. Additional customer benefits include:

    • Access to EFI’s sales and technical field resources working side-by-side with their Xerox sales reps.
    • A standardized and simplified digital workflow. Fiery Command WorkStation provides a single, intuitive user interface across a customer’s entire print operation.
    • Customized workflows for metallic applications. The DFE optimizes processing speeds for single or multiple jobs with Fiery HyperRIP technology.
    • Color management tools along with gold, silver and clear dry ink capabilities that allow customers to create more metallic effects and tactile embellishments for higher-value applications.

    “Working with Xerox on the 2017 acquisition of FFPS technology marked a new level of cooperation in our longstanding partnership, and we are excited about the new technology that it has yielded,” said Toby Weiss, senior vice president and general manager, EFI Fiery. “The new technology demonstration at Connect will show customers the important ways digital print is expanding, with fully color managed metallic effects, stronger, better automation, superior options in late-stage editing, and much more.”

    The new DFE will be driving a production color press technology demonstration at EFI Connect in Xerox booth # 101. The booth will also display a Xerox AltaLink C8000 with the recently launched Xerox EX-c C8000 Print Server Powered by Fiery along with a workflow station featuring Xerox FreeFlow Core.




  • + RIPped for success

    At the beginning of the digital age, the RIP was the premier tool of printers and repro houses. Today, output devices take centre-stage along with file-sharing, remote access and cloud storage a...

    December 21 2017

    At the beginning of the digital age, the RIP was the premier tool of printers and repro houses. Today, output devices take centre-stage along with file-sharing, remote access and cloud storage applications. However, RIPs still matter – a lot – indeed, print quality depends upon it. In this feature, Radisa Peric, Flexi Product Manager at SAi, looks at what wide-format print providers and signmakers should consider when choosing a RIP. Clearly, one size doesn’t fit all … to read the full article, click here.





  • + Jet Launching Specialty films

    Jet Technologies (Jet) is launching a new range of speciality films, Soft Touch, which are available in black, gold, and white from early next year.

    December 12 2017

    Jet Technologies (Jet) is launching a new range of speciality films, Soft Touch, which are available in black, gold, and white from early next year.

    Damon Norton, Sales Manager Films at Jet says, “For a long time we have been offering a high-quality anti-scuff matte film, Durophan Plus. It has been very well received.

    “Alongside that in our specialty line up is Soft Touch, which has been around for a while. We have now partnered with Derprosa, the coating technology patent holder in Europe. With Derprosa we have the right products, with the right supply lines. 

    “Knowing that we are working with the inventors of soft touch gives us a lot of pride in offering these films.

    “It is a wonderful standalone in clear, and now we have added black, gold, silver and white. So for us it is about value-add. We want our clients to recover as much as they can when laminating.

    “On the Soft Touch films, embellishing can be achieved via spot UV, hot foil stamping and embossing.

    “We want our clients to offer a point of difference to creatives and brand managers. Once they get a sense of what is possible with these products, we feel strongly that they will create new levels of emotional response to their print work. Through Jet the general trade will have a supply line that they can work with alongside creatives to make the most of the tactile and visual possibilities that our films offer.

    “It is all about options and being able to offer our expertise to clients so they can lift their return on finishing processes.”

    They will be formally released early next year, with the company noting limited amounts will be available prior to that.

    Norton says, “I believe we have the product right, and the supply lines right. It is about making sure people know about it.

    “Keep a look out for digital versions of the Durophan Plus and Soft Touch films. It is something we are working on.”





  • + SAi Announces Worldwide Agreement with Graphtec to Include Flexi-based Software on Company’s Full Range of Vinyl Cutters

    Salt Lake City, Utah, USA – SA International (SAi), the leading provider of software solutions for the professional signmaking, wide-format digital printing and...

    December 12 2017

    Salt Lake City, Utah, USA – SA International (SAi), the leading provider of software solutions for the professional signmaking, wide-format digital printing and CAD/CAM for CNC machining industries, has announced a worldwide agreement with cutting technology giant, Graphtec, to supply three newly-created cutting software packages with the company’s entire range of large format vinyl cutters.

    Driven by SAi’s market-leading Flexi software, the feature-rich cutting solutions – Cutting Master 4, Graphtec Pro Studio and Graphtec Pro Studio Plus – have been designed to meet the varied requirements of print service providers and sign & display companies.

    The new three-tier offering replaces Graphtec’s previous software solution, also named Graphtec Pro Studio, and provides users with access to the specific design and cutting tools to suit their respective needs.

    Commenting on the agreement Hiroyuki Takahata, Senior Managing Director at Graphtec, said: “Our goal is to provide our customers with full access to a complete workflow to ensure that they can maximum the potential of our cutters. With the enhanced design and editing functions, the new SAi software solutions work in conjunction with our cutters to deliver greater productivity and incredible output. This partnership brings with it fantastic opportunities to expand application offerings and improve business operations for users.”

    As a world leader in cutting technology, Graphtec’s portfolio includes flatbed, roll- and sheet-fed cutters, which deliver cutting widths of up to 162 cm / 64 in. The new software packages comprise:

    Graphtec Pro Studio Plus

    Driven by FlexiSIGN, Graphtec Pro Studio Plus offers users the most comprehensive offering with a haul of new tools including smart nesting for designs that are larger than the substrate. Graphtec Pro Studio Plus will automatically nest the sections of the design that exceed the material into available vacant space. This ability to maximise material usage ensures that print service providers and sign & display companies can enjoy greater capital saving. The Animated Cut Viewer tool allows users to view and analyse the cutting order and amend this ahead of the cutting process for optimum productivity. This solution is available as a payable upgrade from Graphtec.

    Graphtec Pro Studio

    Graphtec Pro Studio offers a vast catalogue of options when creating original designs. It includes enhanced functions such as auto-shapes. This enables faster and easier output of sign and display applications and crucially, reduces the time-consuming barriers of designing from scratch. Using the new Advanced Registration Mark Sensing System (ARMS), users can easily achieve highly accurate results. Graphtec Pro Studio is included with all Graphtec cutters.

    Cutting Master 4

    Designed as a Graphtec plug-in software for Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW Graphics Suite, Cutting Master 4 enables users to drive the cutter with minimum input. New capabilities enable simple creation of registration marks to locate the design, which improves accuracy and allows users to enjoy greater production efficiency. This tool is included with all Graphtec cutters.

    Mark Blundell, CEO at SAi concludes, “We are proud to join forces with Graphtec and add it to a roster of leading strategic partnerships. With almost 70 years’ experience, Graphtec has built a reputation as the number one for pioneering cutters which is complemented by our industry-acclaimed Flexi-driven bundles. This collaboration provides Graphtec customers the opportunity to enhance their business performance by increasing throughput and achieving premium quality applications.”

    Available now, Graphtec Pro Studio and Graphtec Pro Studio Plus are compatible with Windows, and Cutting Master 4 is accessible on both Windows and Mac platforms.

    Mark Blundell, CEO of SAi (left) and Hiroyuki Takahata, Senior Managing Director at Graphtec (right)




  • + Sun Chemical Launches new UV/EB inks for Food Packaging

    Sun Chemical has launched two new UV/EB inks for primary and secondary food packaging that are compliant with the strictest global standards i...

    November 20 2017

    Sun Chemical has launched two new UV/EB inks for primary and secondary food packaging that are compliant with the strictest global standards in the marketplace, including Nestlé food packaging requirements and Swiss Ordinance chemical composition requirements.

    The two new inks—SunBeam Advance EB offset inks and SunCure Advance UV inks—meet the latest photoinitiator-safe packaging guidelines and are made with no BPA-based chemical to meet the most stringent global standards. They provide low odor, as well as very low residual extractables characteristics while maintaining the highest standards of pressroom performance at the highest press speeds. 

    Specifically formulated to help increase productivity by significantly reducing the number of blanket washes, these ink systems work on a variety of substrates and specifically address concerns that brand owners face due to strict labeling laws like California’s Proposition 65.

    Designed for high-speed web folding carton and flexible packaging applications, SunBeam Advance electron beam (EB) curable offset inks offer high transfer and excellent lithographic water window properties, adhesion and abrasion resistance, outstanding cure response, excellent color recovery after a stop, and hold density well to help improve overall quality. SunBeam Advance inks are considered high strength to help improve mileage and can also reduce startup and running waste.

    SunCure Advance UV inks are designed for food packaging applications and offer excellent runnability on both super high speed sheetfed and web presses. In addition to extremely high transfer properties and very good lithographic water window, these inks hold density well and provide very good UV cure response under either inter-station curing or delivery positioned lamp conditions. SunCure Advance inks also offer adhesion to some non-porous type stocks. This ink system can be used for the most sensitive packaging applications where low odour and extractables are essential.






  • + Graphic Art Mart Announce Extension of Aslan’s Portfolio of Metal Effect Films

    Graphic Art Mart is delighted to announce the extension of Aslan’s broad portfolio of metal effect films. To complement the MetalEffect ASLAN CA 23 series, cons...

    October 18 2017

    Graphic Art Mart is delighted to announce the extension of Aslan’s broad portfolio of metal effect films. To complement the MetalEffect ASLAN CA 23 series, consisting of a variety of polished and brushed metal effect films, the metallic colour rose gold is now also available. 

    Rose gold is an extremely popular shade at the moment across a number of different industries, including décor, jewellery, electronics, fashion and interior design. With the self-adhesive polyester film, this trendy colour can now easily be integrated in shop window designs, visual merchandising and shop fitting. The highly glossy film has been designed for the creation of plotted lettering, logos and designs on smooth surfaces as well as full-surface designs. 

    Thanks to the identical effect on both sides, the film is particularly suited for glass applications. Applying a plotted design inversely on the inner side of the glass also protects it from deliberate damage and other external factors. The rose gold film has a minimum outdoor durability of two years and is suitable for interior as well as exterior applications. 

    For more information, visit http://www.gamart.com.au/AslanMetalisedPolyesters.aspx




  • + New Graphic Art Mart Catalogue

    Graphic Art Mart has released their updated October 2018 catalogue. This comprehensive guide is jam packed with the latest product releases, updates and pricing across over 250 pag...

    October 16 2017

    Graphic Art Mart has released their updated October 2018 catalogue. This comprehensive guide is jam packed with the latest product releases, updates and pricing across over 250 pages. Click here to go straight to the guide.